Computing and recording machine.



E. C. WALTER. COMPUTING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

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E. C. WALTER. COMPUTING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ I912.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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E. C. WALTER. COMPUTING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. 1912. 1,224,873.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. 1912. Y

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Patented May 1, 1917.

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COMPUTlNG AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.7.1912.

Patented May 1, 191?.

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COMPUHNG AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.7.19I2.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1912.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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E. C. WALTER.

COMPUTING AND RECORDlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.7. 1912.

1,224,873. Patented May 1, 1917.

I6 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

E. c. WALTER.

COMPUTlNG AND RECORDlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FIL ED AUG-7.1912. Q 1,224,873. Patented May 1, 1917.

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COMPUTING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. 1912.

1,224,873. Patented May 1, 1917.

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E. C. WALTER.

COMPUTING AND RECORDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, 1912.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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\RN @Xx Z a verdict Howe/11 operated by the numeral-keys when it UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. WALTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HARRY T. AMBROSE, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

Application filed August 7 To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD "Vin/run, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and Stateot New York, have invented certain new and useful Inn-movements in Computing and Recording Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to addii1g,subtra(-.ting and recording machines, and particm larly machines adapted for making lists of checks or other items, adding and subtracting tems, and printing the amounts and totals thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine having positively actuated adding and subtracting mechanism of simple, durable and ellicient construction, and designed to print each item on a worksheet or strip of paper, and, then, the totals thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine oil? the character specified in which the manual operations may be. easily and quickly etl'ected, first. through the instrumentality of keys and, then, by a suitable motor, such as an operating handle.

it further object of my invention to provide a novel aggroupment of mechanisms adapted to e tect additive and subtractive computations, with provision of means for shifting certain instrunicntalities in the machine whereby it may be adapted either to etlcct one or the other oi the specified character of computation.

A still further object of my invention is the ar angcment of connections between numeral-keys and computing-med anism and by which connections only an actuation of the selectingmechanism (which forms a part of the structure) is effected when one or another ot the numeral-keys is depressed by the operator, there being mechanism provided for independently actuating said selecting-mechanism to effect a computation; so that, to the end that each numeral-key shall be required to do a minimum amount of Work, the connections betwe in the numeral-keys and computing-incchanism are peculiarly arranged, first, in order that no partof said computing-mechanism shall be lesired to add or subtract and, secondly, before said computing-mechanism is opcrate .l,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 3 917.

Serial No. 713,921.

only that part of said mechanism shall be actuated which includes the selecting-mechanism, wherefore, upon the depression of a numeral-key, only slight work is imposed thereon in actuating the selectedinstrumentality or instrumentalities of the machine, the remaining instrui-nentality r inst-rinmentalities of said machine depending for operation upon the actuation of other mechanism to effect the necessary computation and, also, to effect simiiltaneously a print ing oi the item upon the wor z-sheet.

The invention also has for its object the provision of instrumcntalities by which the actuation of number-wheels or dials is accomplished through means which are controlled by but which are actuated independently of the numeral-keys, provision being made, as stated, in independent mechanism to effect successive actuations of the parts oil' the coniputing-mechanism and, thus, of the successive number-wheels or dials in the operation of adding or subtracting.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of suitable means formed for actuating the parts of the computing-mechanism whereby it is readily converted from an adding machine into a subtracting machine, the actuation oi? the necessary parts, devices and mechanisms for eiiecting this change being under the control, preferably, of a suitable device conveniently arranged on the machine and operating, with certainty and ease, to shift the parts that may be required to make the desired conversion. Still another object of the invention is to provide a connection between the instrumentalities which control the total-computation and the ribbon-mechanism of the machine whereby, by the, operation 01 said in strumentalities, said ribbon-mechanism is actuated to cause a printing of the total amount in a distinguishing color.

Still another object of the invention is to provide instrnmentalities whereby a selection in the machine, once made, may be eliminated or destroyed without the necesanother object o'f-the invention is to keys, means for controlling their operation and position whereby the danger of errors, due to the possibility of inaction or nnproper action of the parts, is eliminated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide instrumentalities whereby the printing upon the work-sheet is not elfected until inentalities to display the condition in which the machine is set; that is to say, for adding, or for subtracting, or for totaling, or otherwise.

Still another object of the invention is to operate all mechanisms of the machine, acting under the control of the pull-handle, during the forward. movement of said handle, thereby leaving the same free to re turn to normal position without imposing any work thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the return of the motor or pull-handle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for producing a sub-total in connection with additive and subtractive computations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the printing of an item may be effected without producing a computation in the machine.

lVith the aforementioned general objects in view, and other specific objects which will be hereinafter set forth, my invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of mechanisms devices, and instrumentalities, all as hereinafter more fully described and claimed. 1

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, and at this point desire to state that it is to be understood, that inexemplifying such an embodiment, I am by no means claiming or restricting myself to such particular form, since other embodiments, adapted to perform the functions and to secure the results for which the illustrated embodiment is designed, are within the spirit of my invention.

In these drawings Figure '1 is a view in perspective of the.

machine, showing particularly the arrange- ."r cnt of the lrevs. the relative position of the operating-handle, and the relative position of the setting lever-the machine being shown, here, as set for adding;

Fig. is a view, in plan, illustrating the keyboard, a part of the casing being broken away to illustrate portions of the ribbon; mechanism, and, also, the printing, sectors;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the machine, a part of the casing, at the side, being broken away to illustrate the gearing actuated by the operating-handle, and constituting the active instrumentalities of the actuating mechanism when a connmtation is to be effected;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the machine, showing the printing-mechanism and the instrinnentalities connecting therewith and operating, in part, to actuate the same; showing, also, certain parts of the ribbon-shifting device and the zeroprinting preventive arms;

' Fig. is an elevational view, with a part of the casing broken away and portions of the interior mechanism omitted to illustrate the setting-lever and certain of the parts operated thereby;

F ig. (3 is a similar view showing other of the parts of the machine actuated by said setting-lever Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section illustrating particularly the numeral-keys, the selectirig-mechanism, and certain. of the parts controlled by said selecting-mechanism;

, F ig. 8 is a fragmentary view of two of the keys, one being shown in normal position, and the other in its actuated position;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the machine, the top-plate of the casing being removed, and certain of the parts being shown in section;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing particularly certain parts of the printing structure and the actuating-i1istrumentalitics which control the same;

Fig. 11 a fragmentary view showing, in detail, stop-devices employed in connection with the printing-mechanisin;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view, in plan, of the carry-pawl shifling-mechanism;

Fig. 13 is 'a fragmentary view, in elevation. of the total-producing mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentaryview, in front elevation, of" some, of the main gears, the shif ing pinion-plates, the shifting cams, and. companior'i set of earns, respectively, forming a part of the computation-mecha nism;

Fig. 15 is a perspective carrying drive-shaft;

Fig; 16 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of mechanism adapted to be actuated into locking engagement with a part of compu tation-mechanism, whereby overthrow of any of the parts is prevented:

view of the cama part of theautomatic line-spacing mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view, in verti-- cal Section, showing particularly the sheetcarrying platen and means for automatically actuating the platen for line spacing;

Fi 19 is a fragmentary view, in sectional elevation, of the platen. and the means for holding it in operative position;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, illustrating a portion of the rib-- hon-mechanism rig. 2i is a fragmentary view, in top plan, thereof;

Fig. 2-2 1S a fragmentary View, in side elevation thereof;

Fig. is a fragmentary vie'\v,'in side'eleration, of a subtotal mechanism;

2% is a fragnie tary view, in perspec tivepof the key, etc, forming part of the to show a modified form of construction whereby the extent of operation of the selecting-mechanism of the machine may be visually determined by the operator;

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, of a modified form of. setting-lever retinning-mechanisin; and

Figs. 29 and are detached views, in perspective and plan,"respectively, of a modified form of one of the printing-sectors andits mounting.

In the following description, I shall, with a view to abhreviating the same as much as possible, use descriptive expressions to comprehend mechanisms, operations, or series of operations, and results: For instance, I shall employ the expression set up or setting up to refer to the operation of the predetermined movement of certain devices which will hereinafter be referred to as the select ing mechanism. The results of the operation of. said selecting-mechanism I shall hereinafter refer to as a condition, wherever the same is accomplished in the usual manner of depressing any one or more of the numeral-keys. Moreover, I shall use such expressions as transit, transmitting, or the like, to designate the operation of the movable or actuating parts which are thrown into operative engagement with the selecting mechanism, and whose movements are or may be controlled by said selecting mechanism.

r 2G is a fragmentary view, in side ele- Referring to the drawings:

The cesing.--.lhe numeral 1 designates the casing of the machine, which may be of any preferred form or construction. Preferably and as shown, the same comprises a metallic case having a broad, flat base adapted to rest upon a table or the like. The inside walls of the opposite sides of the casing provide journals or bearings for the various shafts and supports of the mechanisms inclosed within the casing.

The keyboard and /.-c i .s*.'lhe keyboard comprises, in this instance, a plurality of rows of key. 2, there being preferably and as shown nine of these keys in each row (which represent the nine cardinal figures without the cipher) for each order or place, that is, for each position of units, tens, hundreds, etc. In the machine illustrated there are ten rows of the keys, there being two rows of decimal keys 2. It will thus be seen that the machine illustrated, having a capacity of 99,999,99999 contains ten orders or places, making a total of ninety keys. From this, it will be obvious that a machine which has a capacity of only 999.99will contaiubut forty-five keys.

At this point, it is proper to state that the machine, as illustrated in the several figures, is set to effect an additive computation. As will presently be explained, the structure is adapted to have its parts positioned, by a single instrun'ientality, whereby it will effect subtractive computation, all as will presently be explained,

Referring, now, particularly, to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that the keys have a vertical movement in apertures formed in the top-plate 3 of the keyboard section of the machine. Underlying this top-plate is an abutment-piece 4 supported on endbrackets 5 depending from the top-plate, and which abutment-piece serves the dual function of limiting the upward movement of the key, and, also. as a support for a spring 6 which is adapted to return the key to normal position after it has been depressed and released for such return movement.

Each key-stem is formed on one side with two notches 7 and 8, respectively: Slidaloly mounted on the top-plate 3 is a lockingplate 9 provided with a plurality of apertures 10 through which the keys 2 extend. This plate 9 is adapted to engage the key in the notch'7. The notch 8 is, for practical purposes, merely a. clearance notch for the plate 9, as shown in Fig.8. The notch 7 is so formed that, when the locking-plate 9 is in an engaging position therein, it will hold the key depressed and against the ac tion of the spring 6, as shown. The lock ing-plate 9 is normally held out of engage= ment with the stems of the keys by a spring 12 attached to'the plate and to a pin 13 projecting from the inside of the casing, as shown in Fig: 7. It will be understood that the locking-plate 9 is actuated out of its normal. position whenever a. key is depressed, whereupon said plate engages in the lockingnotch 7 in the key, in which it remains until the plate is forced out oi. engagement with.

said holding-notch. To limit the upward movement oi. the key on being returned to its normal position by the spring 0, the key, on the side opposite to the notches 7 and 8, and below the lower end of the spring (3, is provided with an angled and cam-faced projeclion 14 adapted to engage av projection 15 on the abutment] iece -l-, as clearly shown in l igs. 7 and 8.

Slidably mounted upon the lower face of the abutment-piece 4 is a mwl-release-plate 16 provided with apertures 17 through which the lower portion of the stem of each key 2 projects. Attached to this plate is a spring 18 which is also secured to a pin 19 projecting from the bottom of the abutmentpiece 4-. This spring operates to maintain the release-plate against the key-stem. At the opposite end of this plate, there is a slot 20 through which one member of a twoarmed pawl 91 extends and which has secured to it a retractile spring adapted to hold the pawl against the rear end of the slot.

The aforementioned angular and camtaced projection 14, when the key is depressed, engages with and actuates the release-plate 16 toward the frontot the machine to cause the holding-pawl to be rocked on its fulcrum 21." mounted in a bracket 21. The spring 18 will permit the rel iase-plate 16 to be moved by said projection and thereafter reshitt the plate to permit the pawl 21 to assume its normal position, namely, that shown in Fig. 7.

hey-1007a mccimnism.-lVhen one key in an order or place-row of keys is depressed, the other keys in that row will be locked in their raised or normal position until the depressed key is returned to its normal position. Thus, only one key at a time can be in the depressed position. Each key has formed on its lower end a projection 1-1- which will pass through the opening 17 in the release-plate 16, when a key is being de pressed. The release-plate will go under all of the other projections 14., thus preventing the other keys "from being depressed until the depressed key is in its raised position.

Selecting-mechanism. Underlying each row of key-stems is a slide-member 23 comprising two spaced bars (Figs. 7 and 10) connected for simultaneous movement and both provided with a plurality of upstanding projections 24., each having a hooked end 25. It will. be observed that the right-hand bar of the sliding-member has five of these projections, whereas the left-hand bar has but four of them. At one end, said slidemember is provided with an inc'ut or notch 26 into which the lower member of the aforementioned two-arn'ied pawl 21 is normally seated to lock said member against movement. Whenever a key is depressed and its projection 14- actnates the releaseplate 16 forward, the pawl 21 is rocked out .of en a ement with the slideanembtr 23.

Said member is then free to move forwardly and thereby influence mechanism presently to be described. \Vhen all of the keys in any particular row are in their raised or normal position, the release-plate 16 will be in its normal position, namely, that shown in Fig. 7. It it had been actuated, its spring 18 will restore it to normal position. In consequence, the pawl 21 will, under the action of its s iiring be held in the ineut 20 in the bar and thereby lock it, as already stated.

The slide-member is provided, near its ends, with elongated slots 27 and 28 through which extend, respectively, shafts 29 and 30, and by which the several slide members are supported.

Each key-stein, at its lower end, is bent at right angles to provide an angulated extension 31. On each alternate law-stein of the row, the extension is on the side apposite irom that of the proximate key in order to he in the plane of the bar of the slidermemher directly beneath it. As the right-hand bar of the slide-member 23 has five projections, they will respectively engage the stems oi the keys bearing the denominational. numerals 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9; whereas, the left-hand bar, having four of such projections, will respectively engage the 2. 1, (3 and 8 keys.

It will now be understood that, when a key is depressed, and its angular projection 14 has cammed or forced the release-plate 1G forward to release the pawl from the slidemember 23, the latter will be free to move for "ardly so that one or another of the projections 2-1: may engage the lower extremity of that key-stem which is depressed and which (according to its denominatiomll value) will 'Pl'CtlGtQIllllHG the extent of move: ment of said slideanember. As will be ,understood, there are in all nine of the upstanding projections on each of: the slidemembers, and each bears a definite relation to the key which it is designed to engage whenever that key is depressed. The hooked form of said upstanding projection permits it temporarily to interlock with the key when the latter is depressed into engaging position.-

The forward end of each of the slide-members 23 is provided with an extension 32 which extends through the front wall 1 of 

